SpaceX Starship SN10 scheduled to fly today

[glend (Glen)]

As I write this SpaceX is getting ready to fly their next prototype Starship (SN10). Exact altitude targeted for this flight is unknown, but maybe higher than last flight. Changes for this flight include the use of three engines for the landing burn initially, with shut down of one near the ground. It is also expected that the landing orientation maneuver will take place at a higher altitude than the last flight to provide more time to reduce speed on descent.
Road closure and village evacuation has commenced, and the wind is virtually nil on site.
More to come.

[glend (Glen)]

Update: Starship SN10 countdown has progressed to propellant loading. This in indicative of a launch in the next hour, barring holds.

[glend (Glen)]

Update: Auto abort on engine start, at T minus 0.1Secs, just before clamp release. Something not right about the data stream from the ship. SpaceX is recycling the count, and may try again later today as they still have five hours in their launch window.

Update 2: Elon reported the auto abort was due to a conservative thrust limit on one engine. They are going to try again today.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Glen
Thanks for the updates
Only switched TV on now as I thought it was later in the day
They usually scrub for the day but looks like only a minor glitch which has been overcome
Let’s hope they at least in the landing phase Starship gets vertical early and slows down to a few feet per second on contact , whether it stays upright that will be the question
Watching in anticipation

[AdamJL]

They stuck the landing
Still blew up 6 mins later.. but the landing was a good start!!
Well done, Space-X

[astronobob (Bob)]

Yeah, wow, definately an improvement on landing, great to watch.
I thought it landed a wee smidge hard (Even looked like it Bounced ?) and from the view Starship seemed to be at a slight angle, as in landed but not true vertical, hence: a bit hard and may have crumpled underneath on impact, thus cause some damage, small fire on one side which possibly caused the explosion that 5 or so minutes later ? ?
Any which, will find out in due course , , ,
But yes, exciting times & looking forward to SN-11

I try insert a link of video at a minute or so before the Landing ?

https://youtu.be/ODY6JWzS8WU?t=679

[glend (Glen)]

Yes it was quite a show, and they did land it upright, albeit with a slight tilt. Apparently the landing legs were a problem, crushed or not deployed fully, and this may have resulted in damage in the engine bay which caused the fire. The small fire in the skirt area, seemed to be contained by the water deluge system on the landing pad, but when they turned the water hose off the fire flared up again and shortly after the Methane tank blew out at the bottom. When that happened SN 10 was launched into the sky once more, falling over on its side.
At least Elon can say he flew it twice in one day.
I am sure the cameras that SpaceX has inside the engine skirt area will tell them alot about the cause of this accident. Elon has not been happy with the leg design for a long time. They cannot use external legs, like Falcon 9, because they would be at risk in orbital re-entry heat.
At least the Flip and Burn, and re-light of all three engines worked as planned, to give a gentle upright landing. That is progress.

[astronobob (Bob)]

All sounds feasible Glen, cheers...

Appears the Explosion has been 'cut-out' on the previous Vid for unknown reasons,,

Sooo, have found this Slow Mo version to see, pretty cool to watch - in a sence..

https://youtu.be/_jWbqhP5eJI?t=32140

[glend (Glen)]

SpaceX has now released their in-house video of the SN10 test flight. Incredible video from inside the engine bay looking down, and from its pad tracking camera, and the chase plane it uses. The detail is fantastic, and contains the control room audio call outs, along with their usual narration.

https://youtu.be/ODY6JWzS8WU

What is interesting, is what happens after the landing, where careful editing seems to provided only a brief glimpse of flames at the base and coveragev of the water system putting it out. They do not show the Methane tank blowing a few minutes later.
Ok I get it, they will argue that it was a post flight accident, maybe caused by turning off the water deluge system too soon..but it is a bit misleading concerning the ultimate outcome.